When they say it's just water weight gain...

Shouliveshappy

So what's the difference between water weight and real weight gain.

In 1 month, I've put on 5 kg (11 lbs) So everyone will say it's impossible to be putting on THAT much weight, and most of it is water weight. I'm quite confused, because water weight is STILL weight right? What's the difference between this and real weight gain?

Will the water weight come off? I dont see the scales dropping. So i assume it's not coming off....

pinggolfer96

The initial couple weeks yes, but your body should regulate and adjust to new calorie levels quick than that. Some of that will be water, but if you're gaining 11lbs in a month, a lot of that will be fat as muscle growth usually occurs at a rate of 1-2lbs per month. What are your calories/ macros at?

Bizzarrini

So this person has put on 9 lbs of fat in a month? Woah.

juggernaut1974

Possibly...depending on how many calories they were eating.

To the OP yes water weight is weight as in scale weight. When most people talk about gaining or losing "weight" what they really mean is gaining or losing mass (typically losing fat mass or gaining muscle mass)

So through that lens, fluctuations in water, while yes absolutely make your scale weight move up or down, don't really represent movements or progress toward in the change in your body's mass, and why most people ignore those fluctuations to whatever extent possible.

11 lbs in a month at best is probably no more than 2 lbs of muscle. The rest is some combination of fat and water

Robbnva

So piggy back onto this thread instead of making a new one, how long does it take to lose water weight? I've had a bad weekend and am 6lbs heavier.

jeffpettis

First, it is not impossible to put on 11 pounds of fat in a month. Of course you would have to be eating a pretty substantial surplus, but it would not be impossible. It's more likely half of that is fat and half is water, glycogen, etc.

Yi5hedr3

For most folks water weight is not important. Your real concern should be what is your body fat percentage? That's your real measure of health!